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Manhunt 2 Ready for UK Release

By Chris Bennett, Tudor Carsten, Michael R. Coburn, Sarah Dale-Harris, Pablo Guzman, Danielle (Dani) Lemon, Chris Metcalfe and David Spratley

Despite being overturned by the High Court on a 'clear error of law', the UK Video Appeals Committee has reconsidered the ban on Manhunt 2 and once again reversed the decision not to give the game Manhunt 2 an 18-rated age certificate.

The game was originally slated for 2007, but was refused a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification because of "unremitting bleakness" and "sustained and cumulative casual sadism." The VAC overturned that decision, and the BBFC applied for judicial review. The High Court ruled that the VAC had erred in their interpretation of 'harm' and sent it back for reconsideration.

In a four to three decision, the VAC allowed Rockstar's original appeal, and without further legal recourse the BBFC must now issue the certificate. The BBFC stated that although they believe the game posed a real potential harm risk, the VAC had 'exercised its independent scrutiny' and that 'in the light of legal advice, the Board does not believe the VAC's judgement provides a realistic basis for further challenge to its decision and has accordingly issued an 18 certificate."

Coverage of the Manhunt 2 UK saga can be found in previous posts.

Coverage of the latest decision can also be found at Gamasutra and GameSpot.

Posted by Michael Mjanes

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Full post as published by Video Game Law Blog on March 25, 2008 (boomark / email).